Carpet-clamp.



No. 643,648. Patented Feb. 20, 1900. F. J. HAWKINS.

CARPET CLAMP.

(Application filed May 10, 1899.) (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIcE.

FANNIE JANE HAWKINS, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOFVA.

CARPET-SLAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 643,648, dated February 20, 1900. Application filed May 10, 1899. serial No. 716,315. (No model.)

To all whom it Hui/y concern:

Be it known that I, FANNIE JANE HAWKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Garpet-Olamps,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for securin g carpets to stairs, and more particularly to devices for performing this function through the medium of stair-rods.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention most nearly appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, having reference to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, in Which Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating part of a stairway with a carpet thereon secured in place bymeans of myinvention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of part of a tread and riser of a stair, showing the clamp in position on the stair-rod, with the bracket in section. Fig. 3 is asimilar viewwith the clamp bar raised. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the parts of the clamp detached from each other.

Like letters of reference mark the same parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by letters, A indicates the tread, and B the riser, of part of a stair upon which I have shown a carpet 0, held in place by a stair-rod D, secured in place by two clamps constructed in accordance with my invention. Each of these clamps comprises a bracket E, provided with a hole at each end to receive screws F, by means of which it is secured to the riser alongside of the carpet and above the projecting end of the stair-rod, two flanges G being formed, one at each side of the bracket, which is also provided with a central recess H and transverse ribs I I between these flanges. A curved plate-spring J is placed between the flanges spanning the recess H and resting upon the base of the bracket, with its ends just inside of the ribs I I.

K indicates the clamp-bar, which is provided with a ring end L, a curved recess M in the edge thereof, and an angular inner end N and which is pivoted on a pin 0 between the flanges G of the bracket E. The angular end is in contact with the spring J and after the manner of the blade of a pocket-knife is held in either extended position by means of the spring acting upon the angular end. The brackets being secured to the risers in the positions indicated and clamp -bars K being raised to the position shown in Fig. 3, the carpet may be laid upon the stair, and the stair-rods, which by preference will be triangular in cross-section,with curved outer faces, placed in position, when by simply turning the clamp-bars down to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the rods will be firmly held, thus securing the carpet. By simply raising the clamp back to the position of Fig. 3 the rods and carpet willbe released and may be lifted off the stair, thus avoiding the pulling of tacks or nails, the drawing of screws, or the unhandy sliding of the rods longitudinally through eyes.

The advantages of my invention are numerous, it permitting the instant securing or release of the rods and carpet, preventing the accidental displacement of the carpet, and permitting of its instant removal.

While I have illustrated and described what I consider the best means known to me for carrying out my invention, I do not wish to be understood as restricting myself to the exact forms and constructions shown,as many slight changes therein or variations therefrom might suggest themselves to the ordinary mechanic, all of which would be clearly included within the limit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

The combination with the riser and tread, of a stair adapted to receive a stair-rod in the angle thereof projecting beyond the side line of the carpet, of a clamp secured in vertical position on the riser'beyond the side line of" the carpet and above the position of the projecting end of the rod, said clamp comprising a vertical bracket E having side flanges, a curved plate-springJ between the flanges and a clamp-bar K pivoted between the flanges provided with an angular inner end in contact with the spring and a ring-shaped outer end with a curved recess to fit over the stairrod, substantially as described.

FANNIE JANE HAWKINS. Witnesses:

PETER OULLEN, N. F. FANOHER. 

